The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-02-05

Mining Review, January Goth.

of the mining country, which ar,
. at this season of the year, quit
complete, concerning the result
. of the past year, show in the az
: create marked improvement il
the results Of the mining industry
AS a whole the conditions affectin
!, all forms of business during tn
!, past year have been more than ull
usually unfavOrable, particular,
j in those portions of the countr,
remote from capital centers ant
transportation facilities. In many
instances, also, during a large por
ton of the time, prices for many O
the chief products have ruled a
such low rates, that mines in opera
ton were compelled to suspend
and many contemplated improve
ments were abandoned; yet, not
withstanding these unfavorable con
ditions, the result, upon the whole
is satisfactory in more points thar
one.
From the leading and more
prominent mining states and terri
tories the amount of production
shows an increase of that over the
previous year; while all give salts
factory evidence of substantial
advance in the establishment and
development of the many branches
of this important industry. In the
reports of the result of this busi-
ness an injustice is shown which
does not fairly represent the actual
condition of affairs; as the mineral
product is estimated usually, not
from the amount produced, but by
its market value, while in agricul-
tural reports the number of bushels
of grain is invariably given, more
clearly showing the product of the
seasons activity. A more reliable
and accurate system would be to
give the amount of ore produced in
tons, as it is well known that the
expense and time required to mine
ton Of ore at one price is as great
as for one which would make a
very different showing according to
the fluctuation of market prices.
In addition to the encouraging
fact presented by the report of
profitable reward for the investment
of capital and investment of capi-
tai and labor, a far more valuable
effectis expressed, particularly from
the older established mining camps,
as it is proven by the most posi-
tive demonstrations that the min
ing industry is no longer regarded
wholly as speculative and uncer-
tain, but is becoming to be recog-
nized as perfectly reliable and le-
gitimate business, which must be
regarded wholly as speculative and
uncertain, but is becoming to be
recognized as a perfectly reliable
and legitimate business, which
must be prosecuted, developed and
managed upon the same basis as
any other branch of industry, to
secure the best results.
In many portions of the country
the practice still prevails of miners
locating everything to secure a
large number of claims, and then
calling for capital, and in many
instances where this is not forth
coming from outside parties the
most valuable properties, respect
lively, have been abandoned, and
often such reports given as to de-
ter others from making investiga-
ton and improvement. This fea-
ture, radically wrong, has had too
long an unfavorable influence upon
the development of mining camps
and mining property. 1t is not
founded upon business principles,
and therefore cannot be expected
to secure the best results. 1t is
not only injurious to the locality,
but in n measure affects public
opinion and the investment of
In mining locations a policy
similar to that pursued
by agriculturists in developing a
,ew country, would produce much
,etter results and give less room
or speculative and dishonest prac-
ices, too commonly prevalent. The
lomesteader, in taking possession ;
If his claim, is restricted to a rea-
onable amount of land. His plan
md purpose is to depend upon ,
himself and his own exertions to
ring it to a productive condition, I
nd the result is permanent and in t
he aggregate wonderful. Ifminers ,
vere restricted in the same manner t
nd located their claims with the
ole purpose of making them pro-
ucers, the history of mining and
he sum total of its results would :
make vastly different exhibit from :
hat shown at the present time.
This vast industry holds within
self more positive, reliable, mex :
austible elements of success than
ny other branch of business in Il
his country, and that it has not
cen able to make a better show =
,g, is not due to lack of any es- =
entail requisite in itself, but to in :;
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